No. 2 Annapolis swamps Broadneck in title game

Panthers take advantage of 22-shot margin to win own tourney for 4th time

Girls lacrosse

April 22, 2001|By Edward Lee | Edward Lee,SUN STAFF

The frustration that had been building within the Annapolis girls lacrosse team finally had an outlet.

Still troubled by a Monday loss to Roland Park, the second-ranked Panthers battered No. 8 Broadneck, 15-2, in the championship final of the Annapolis Tournament last night.

Annapolis, which improved to 9-1, has won its own tournament in all four years it has been organized.

But the reigning Class 4A-3A state champs continued to stew over a 13-9 loss to sixth-ranked Roland Park in the Maryland Lacrosse Showdown at Towson University six days ago.

"Losing to Roland Park on Monday set the tone for practices this week," said senior midfielder and Duke-bound Kristy Dirks. "The practices this week were more intense than any in the four years that I've been a part of this team. And it showed today."

How thorough was Annapolis' rout? The Panthers outshot Broadneck by 22 attempts, needed only two saves from the goalkeeping duo of sophomore Cammie Jurkowsky and senior Abbie Wright, and enjoyed a 12-2 advantage at halftime.

Annapolis scored 11 unanswered goals in the first half, and three of those came within a 42-second span midway through the period.

Panthers coach Dave Gehrdes said his players were so determined to play the second half that he only spoke to them for about 30 seconds.

But senior midfielder and Maryland-bound Acacia Walker said the players reminded each other of an April 2 contest against Severna Park in which Annapolis had a comfortable four-goal lead at the half before holding off a furious Falcons rally to win the game.

"Sometimes we have a strong first half and then in the second, we let up," Walker said. "We started thinking that it was 0-0 at the beginning of the second half. It was a new game to us."

Broadneck, which dropped to 6-3, did not have the same drive that helped the Bruins defeat No. 9 St. Mary's, 10-8, Friday night.

Broadneck could muster only 10 shots against the Panthers defense and junior midfielder Brooke Richards, the team's leading scorer, did not record a point in the game.

"We lacked confidence," said Bruins coach Karen Tengwall. "It was the little breakdowns that caught us, and you can't afford breakdowns against Annapolis."

In the consolation game, St. Mary's improved to 9-3-1 by throttling three-time Virginia state champ W.T. Woodson, 10-4.

Saints junior midfielder Jamie Motley registered a game-high three goals and two assists.

"Yesterday, we got nervous and rushed the ball," she said. "I think we capitalized on offense and forced them to make mistakes on defense."